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Some of the biggest roles in the West End are played by the smallest stars. Here, three young ‘School of Rock’ performers reveal what it is like growing up in the spotlight as Zack, Tomika and Freddie

Performing to audiences of more than 1,000-strong four times a week at the New London Theatre might seem a frightening prospect to most. But for newly discovered young talents Phoenix Taylor, Annabel Gracey and Tia Figgett, who star in the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock: The Musical, they love nothing more than being on stage. And at just 12 years old, they are some of the youngest stars currently rocking out in the West End.

The three are truly breaking the mould, having been chosen in competitive open auditions without following the more traditional route of stage school. Phoenix, who plays lead guitarist Zack, says he started playing guitar at the age of seven. “When I was younger, all around the house, all anyone would do was listen to music. So I just naturally liked it and wanted to play guitar,” he says.

I actually got caught singing in my school toilet, so my teacher signed me up for music lessonsTia Figgett (Tomika)

Originally from York, he trained at Leeds College of Music and decided to audition for the show after seeing the School of Rock cast perform on Children in Need. “I got here because I play guitar, not because I was in the theatre world,” Phoenix says.

Annabel also trained at Leeds College of Music and auditioned after Phoenix suggested she should go for the drummer role. She learnt drums when she was eight, and is the first girl to play the role of Freddie – which was originally written and cast as a boy. “We were in the same band and Phoenix said, ‘Why don’t you audition?’ So I did, and now I’m here,” she says, making it sound rather easy.

Tia, also 12, who plays lead singer Tomika, says she has been singing for as long as she can remember and became inspired after watching musical theatre productions as a young child. “I went to see Matilda and that really inspired me, so I thought I should maybe try something like that,” she says.

“I actually got caught singing in my school toilet, so my teacher signed me up for music lessons.”

Blank verse: Tia quickly recovered her composure after once forgetting her line

The children perform in up to four shows a week and, while there are three rotating casts that alternate shows, they have a tough schedule, company manager Rory Neal-McKenzie says. They don’t leave the theatre until 10.30pm but agree that the buzz of being on stage is well worth the effort needed to be there.

Phoenix and Annabel live in the official School of Rock house for three out of four weeks in a month. Phoenix says: “Our schools give us homework and we bring it down and do it in the house.” There is a tutor or qualified teacher in the house daily to help them.

The three young stars are unanimous about whether they mind missing school for three weeks. They all smile and reply with a strong “No.”

I find it harder performing in front of family and friends than performing on stagePhoenix Taylor (Zack)

Annabel does admit that “sometimes, I do miss my friends back home, because I don’t get to see them for a while. But I always Facetime them.” Yet living away from home has some perks, she says. “We always get really nice meals. My favourite is probably chicken pie. It’s really yummy.” The others laugh.

When they are not on stage, rehearsing or catching up with school work, they are just normal kids who like to chill out and watch TV. Phoenix says: “We play on our phones quite a lot.” Annabel adds: “And mini ping-pong.”

Are they phased by getting up on stage every week? Absolutely not. Phoenix says: “I find it harder performing in front of family and friends than performing on stage. You don’t know them and you can’t see their faces.

“If you’re just in a room with 20 other people you know all of them and you don’t want to embarrass yourself.”

Strumthing special: Phoenix was chosen for his guitar talent rather than his theatrical background

They are clearly all very talented and quick to learn from mistakes. The worst thing to happen on stage, says Annabel, was during the bows. “I was fiddling with my stick and it just flew out my hands,” she says. “It hit someone in the audience. I felt really bad because they just put it back on stage and I think they had to leave the theatre. Everyone was just laughing.”

Tia says: “I once forgot my line. I had to just cut it off short because I completely blanked.”

But any stage fright is quickly forgotten. After a physical, a vocal and a band warm-up they are fully prepared to go on stage. To stop any last-minute nerves “you just have to be normal and chill”, says Phoenix. “Just focus so you don’t mess up on stage.”

Tia says: “It’s important to remember to breathe. Otherwise you’ll just panic and forget everything.” Diet is also important too. “Usually I don’t eat sweets,” she says. “The sugar is bad for your throat.”

Just keep on practising – and when you think you’re ready, go for itAnnabel Gracey (Freddie)

They all love the spectacle that comes with being on stage. Phoenix’s favourite thing about performing is “seeing that the audience are actually enjoying what you’re doing”. Annabel agrees: “The audience reaction is always really good, so you walk away feeling really happy because the audience enjoyed it. It’s an amazing buzz.”

And do they want to stay in the arts and continue with a career in music? Of course they do. Phoenix says he would like a career in music, while Annabel is looking to play or compose music. Tia adds: “I’d like to still do what I’m doing right now – to become an actor or a songwriter.”

When it comes to words of wisdom, it appears that if you want to be on stage then practice really does make perfect. Annabel says: “Just keep on practising – and when you think you’re ready, go for it. You can only ever improve from your mistakes, so as you go on you’ll get better and better and better.”

Fiddlesticks: Annabel once shocked an audience member with her percussion technique

Phoenix says: “When you start any skill, you hit a wall and it's really frustrating because you feel like you’re not getting any better. Just keep practising and eventually it will wear off and you’ll start excelling.”

Tia believes you should simply “be yourself”. She says: “If you try and be someone different – say, if you’ve seen someone else sing or you’ve been to a musical and you think, ‘Oh, I should do that’ – I think you should just be yourself, because if you get in clearly they like you.”

Rocking the West End

Want to take your children to the theatre this Christmas, but unsure which show to book?

Adapted from the popular 2003 movie, Andrew Lloyd Webber brings School of Rock to life with an upbeat, feel-good musical in which a class of overachieving private school students are taught how to unleash their inner rock star.